Mornington Peninsula Activities

Things to do on the Mornington Peninsula run from geothermal springs and cellar door masterclasses to dolphin cruises out of Sorrento and gondola rides over Arthurs Seat. Browse Mornington Peninsula activities, tours from Melbourne and food and drink experiences, or start with the kind of day you're after.

Hot springs, wine and wellness on the Mornington Peninsula

Ten Minutes by Tractor, a winery at Main Ridge, pairs its tasting room with Alba Thermal Springs & Spa and its 22 geothermal springs. The Wine & Wellness Escape is the half-day version: a 1-hour Terroir Masterclass tasting eight wines, then an afternoon in the springs. The Alba Thermal Springs, Wine Tasting and Gourmet Lunch adds a multi-course tasting menu at the winery restaurant.

For wine without the springs, the Terroir Wine Masterclass starts at 11am.

Dolphin swims, seal cruises and sea dragon snorkels

The Wildlife and Scenic Cruise leaves Sorrento Pier at 11.30am for a 90-minute run along the Sorrento to Portsea coast, looking for Australian fur seals, a gannet colony and resident bottlenose dolphins. To get in the water, the Dolphin Swim and Hot Springs Combo is a 3-hour snorkel with wild dolphins and seals plus Peninsula Hot Springs entry valid for 12 months.

Portsea has sea dragons, the colourful cousins of the seahorse, and it is one of the few places in Australia you can snorkel with them. The Weedy Sea Dragons Snorkel Tour is a 2-hour guided snorkel at 2pm daily, with equipment included. The Mornington Waterbike Tour is a dry alternative: a 90-minute ride from Mother's Beach, watching for stingrays and turtles.

Gondola rides and bike hire around Point Nepean

The Arthurs Seat Eagle cable car ride is a 25-minute return gondola trip over the State Park, boarding at Dromana or the summit, open 10am to 5pm every day. At the tip of the peninsula, Point Nepean bike hire is a 3-hour ride past beaches, cliffs and historic forts, and the Quarantine Station walking tour adds a costumed storyteller.

Mornington Peninsula day tours from Melbourne

Coach tours leave the Melbourne CBD and split by interest. The Sightseeing Tour with Lunch covers London Bridge at Portsea, Murrays Lookout and the bathing boxes. The Winery Bus Tour visits four wineries, and the Peninsula Hot Springs and Bathing Boxes Day Tour gives you a 2 to 3-hour soak in the mineral baths.

Drivers can skip the coach and book each experience directly. Sorrento Pier and Portsea sit on the same stretch of coast, so a morning cruise and a 2pm snorkel pair easily.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Mornington Peninsula worth visiting?

Yes. The Mornington Peninsula is about an hour's drive from Melbourne and fits geothermal springs, cellar door masterclasses, dolphin swims and gondola rides into one trip.

What is the Mornington Peninsula famous for?

The Mornington Peninsula is known for wineries, hot springs, colourful bathing boxes and the coast around Sorrento and Portsea, plus wild dolphins, seals and weedy sea dragons in Port Phillip Bay.

Can you visit the Mornington Peninsula without a car?

Yes. Coach tours to the Mornington Peninsula leave from the Melbourne CBD, and the Hop On Hop Off Bus Pass runs from the Grand Hyatt on Collins Street on weekends.

Do you need experience to snorkel with sea dragons at Portsea?

No. The Weedy Sea Dragons Snorkel Tour at Portsea is a 2-hour guided tour with a demonstration and all equipment included, and it needs no snorkelling experience.

A 25-minute gondola ride or a day of springs and wine both fit here, and the Mornington Peninsula tours are the easiest place to start.